taser information sheet - queensland police service · taser information sheet what is a taser?...
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Taser Information S
heetWhat is a Taser?
Taser is a yellow weapon used by police that uses electricity to stop violent behaviour.
When are they used?
Tasers can be used where there is a ‘risk of serious’ injury to a person at a violent incident.
Why are they used?
Tasers are used by officers to stop violent situations from going on.
How are they used?
Tasers operate for five seconds to stop a person.
What training do police officers receive?
Police Officers attend Taser training every year.
What checks and balances are in place?
Every time a Taser is used, it is reviewed by the QPS and CMC.
General information
Tasers have been shown to work as they help police to gain control of a person quickly.
When fired, a taser shoots two small darts into a person.
A Taser then works for 5 seconds sending electricity into the body. This stops the person from moving by causing pain.
Police will only use a Taser when there is a “risk of serious injury” to any person.
Tasers are only used in extreme circumstances – when police believe there is no other reasonable option to avoid serious injury.
A Taser can also be used by holding the Taser against the body of a person. This will, cause pain in that area only.
Police officers attend yearly training and have the opportunity to be tasered so they understand how it works and feels. Police are trained to aim for certain areas of the body when firing the Taser. This means, police avoid sensitive areas.
Police are also trained to be aware that some people who are acting violently may be suffering a mental health problem. In these situations officers are trained to make sure that person gets the right medical help.
Training also includes ways of communicating with people who are upset.
Police officers are trained to only use one Taser on a person at any one time.
Police will help a person who has been Tasered to make sure they are ok. This will include giving first aid if needed.
When a Taser has been used, it is checked to ensure it has been used correctly, even if it has not been fired.
For more information:
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/campaigns/taser/